One Player to Target in Every Round of Your 2026 Fantasy Football Draft
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The time is ticking, and you’re on the clock. Who are you taking?
Fantasy football drafts can create some of the most fun (and sometimes stressful) moments of the season. One pick can make your roster a league-wide powerhouse, or it can tank your season before it ever begins. And while there’s no way to predict how a player’s season will go, preparing for your draft can still certainly give you an advantage.
There’s plenty of value in this year’s draft, and that doesn’t change as you work your way into the later rounds. Here’s one player fantasy managers should target in every round in 2026 drafts.
Round 1: Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Considering not everyone will be fortunate enough to land a top-three pick, CMC is a viable option for most managers entering round one. Both Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs will be at the top of the pecking order, but the reality is that McCaffrey outperformed them both last season. He finished the year as PPR’s RB1 and paired that feat with an absurd 24.5 fantasy points per game. As long as he stays healthy, this is unreal value.
Round 2: Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
The tight end market grows thin quickly as the draft continues, so it’s important to snag a good one relatively early on. Trey McBride, last year’s TE1, is exactly that. He won the position in a landslide, finishing more than 100 fantasy points ahead of the next-best tight end, Kyle Pitts. Depending on how your draft plays out, he may fall sooner. However, the positional advantage he gives is unquestionable.
Round 3: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
There are tons of good fantasy quarterbacks, but there are only a few great ones, and Lamar Jackson is one of them. Jackson finished as fantasy’s QB1 in his last fully healthy season (2024), and the elite rushing ability that got him there has yet to show any signs of decline. While quality receivers and backs can often be found in the later rounds, quarterbacks of Jackson’s caliber are much harder to come by. That makes securing a QB like him especially valuable.
Round 4: DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
The Slim Reaper is in for a major 2026 campaign. He finished last year as fantasy’s WR20 under PPR formats, ranking ahead of wideouts like Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb. And now with A.J. Brown gone, those numbers should only continue to climb. It’s almost a guarantee that some of the 121 targets Brown left behind will go to Smith, giving the Eagles’ new WR1 a clear path towards a career-best fantasy season. He could easily outperform his current ADP of 45.
Round 5: Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams
Considering how lethal Davante Adams was in the red-zone last season, it’s almost a shock that he’s projected to go in Round 5. He snagged 14 touchdown receptions in 2025, which was the best across the NFL among WRs. And while that type of production is hard to expect again, Adams has consistently proven to be one of the league’s best touchdown threats. As long as he can remain a relatively consistent target once again, his scoring upside alone makes him extremely appealing.
Round 6: Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns
In case you missed out on the Trey McBride sweepstakes, Harold Fannin is more than a viable replacement. He finished as TE6 in PPR leagues last year, despite splitting reps with longtime Browns tight end David Njoku. And now that Njoku is a Charger, expect Fannin’s 107 targets to grow even more. This could be especially true in a Browns offense that is still working through its quarterback woes, as tight ends tend to be a passer’s best friend.
Round 7: Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints
In terms of fantasy upside, Jordyn Tyson might be the best rookie wideout available. The Saints had the sixth-most passing attempts across the NFL last season, signaling a potentially massive opportunity right out of the gate this year. And with quarterback Tyler Shough now having a full offseason under his belt, the passing game should continue to grow. If you’re looking for a rookie to add to your roster, Tyson is hard to overlook.
Round 8: Wan’Dale Robinson, Tennessee Titans
Although the new offense remains to be seen, Wan’Dale Robinson could be one of the best position players available at his current price. He had a breakout season last year, totaling 1,014 yards and three touchdowns en route to a WR14 finish in PPR leagues. Now, he gets a fresh start in Tennessee alongside former Giants coach Brian Daboll, whose offensive scheme is something Robinson should already be familiar with.
Round 9: Isaiah Likely, New York Giants
Isaiah Likely is flying heavily under fantasy managers’ radars. He landed in New York after signing a three-year deal, which is already a sign that the franchise has big plans for him. And, with Wan’Dale Robinson now in Tennessee and Malik Nabers still working his way back from injury, Likely could quickly become one of Jaxson Dart’s most favored receiving options. At his current price, he could be a late-round steal if you still haven’t picked up a tight end.
Round 10: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
It’s almost baffling that last year’s MVP falls into the later rounds, yet here we are. Stafford finished last season as fantasy’s QB3 overall, logging 4,707 yards through the air and an absurd 46 touchdowns to go alongside it. Sure, expecting another award-winning campaign from a 38-year-old quarterback is a crazy ask. But Stafford doesn’t need to win another MVP to justify his current draft price, especially with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams alongside him. What’s not to like?
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Zach is a Temple University graduate with a degree in journalism and sports media, bringing a lifelong passion for storytelling and athletics to his work. With years of experience covering a myriad of sports at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels, he seeks to bring a polished and informed approach to every story he tells.
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